Standard: Text Types and Purposes Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
Objective: The students will be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article).
Materials:
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs as told to Jon Scieszka
Markers
Chart paper labeled, “How to Write an News Paper Opinion Article”
Sample “News Article” worksheet
“News Article” worksheet
Lesson Sequence: · “Boys and girls, today I am going to read to you one of my favorite books of all time. It is called The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. How many of you have heard of this book by Jon Scieszka? Great. Based on the title and the cover, what do you think this book will be about? Can you make some predictions?” o Allow students time to predict. Follow up with questions like “What made you think that?” or “Why do you think that is going to happen?” o “Very interesting predictions. Now let me read the beginning of the story and determine if your predictions were confirmed. Remember, predictions are never wrong because they are only what we think might happen. If we find our predictions are not what Jon Scieszka was thinking, then we will simply make new predictions.” o Stop reading occasionally and allow students to confirm and change predictions: § Page 20: “So boys and girls, where do we think Al is going to go next?” § Page 28: “What do you think that Al is going to do to that 3rd mean pig?” o If you notice students are not engaged with The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, stop and redirect by asking a question or discussing a connection. · State Objective and Purpose: o “Today, we are going to learn how to write our very own opinion article about our story. We will learn how to express our ideas just like professional news paper writers do. I am so excited; let’s get started!” · Teach and Model:
Have chart paper ready with the heading, “How to Write an News Paper Opinion Article”
“Students, there are a few key components to writing an opinion article. First let’s define the word opinion. The word is defined as a personal view – the view somebody takes about an issue. To write one of these articles, there are a few steps one must follow.”
Along the way, have students volunteer to define/explain each of the steps.
“Step one is – discover or choose an opinion about a certain topic. In this case, you will be picking your favorite part of the story and writing about it.”
“Step two is – write your opening sentence. An opening sentence should sum up what your entire article is going to be about.”
“Step three is – state your opinion. This is where you make it clear to your reader what you point of view on the topic is. In this case, what was your favorite part of the story?”
“Step four is – support your opinion with reasons. A well written article has two to three strong reasons for choosing the point of view that he/she chose. Why was that section your favorite?”
“Step four is – write your conclusion sentence. A conclusion sentence should restate your original opinion.”
From here, move into the prepared sample “News Article” worksheet.
· Guided Practice: o Go over the prepared “News Article” worksheet by stopping and having the students clearly see each of the four steps. · Independent Practice/Assessment: o “Boys and girls, it is now your turn to write an opinion article of your own. I am passing out your very own blank “News Article” worksheet. Make sure to write your name and number on the top of the page. Also, students, you will notice that there is spots for you to fill in your article title, photo, and photo caption; I ask that you do these three elements last. Now follow the four step process and create your very own article. I will be walking around if you have any questions.” · Closure: o “Who would like to share his/her article for the class?” o “Great job future news paper writers! I am so impressed with all of your articles! Great job today!”
Assessment (How will you know the lesson has be successful?): You will be able to determine that the lesson was a success if, students asked relevant questions and produced opinion articles that followed the pre-set four step writing guidelines.
Today I taught my first lesson in the field. The goal was for the students to be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article). Based on the responses given throughout the lesson and the work handed in afterwards, it was made clear that the students were able to comprehend and use the newly presented information. Students, for the most part, remained focused through the entirety of the lesson asking well thought out questions and responding with skilled answers. There were a few students who I did notice spacing out towards the end of the guided practice section. I chose to re-focus some of my questions right on the spot to engage those students and draw them back into the conversation. Also, during independent work, I followed up with those two to three students to make sure that they were staying focused and on track. This approach appeared to work as these students’ news articles were just as strong as the rest of the classes. One thing that I want to improve upon for my next lesson is the timing of instruction. It is important for a student to hear all instructions before starting any assignment. As the teacher, I have the responsibility to set up my students for success. By rushing through the instructions while half the class was more focused on passing out the activity sheets, I was not allowing my students to have the tools needed for success. Timing of instruction is a skill that I will be focusing on when I teach my second lesson. Overall, I am proud of the work that I put forth. For my first attempt at a teaching literacy in a fifth grade classroom, I was able to engae my students, teach them the skills needed to write a well thought out news article, and assist them while they independently reached new levels of skill.
Notes from Cooperating Teacher:
Great Format – clear introduction, objective, instruction, guided practice, independent work, and conclusion
Strong interactive read-aloud – read with expression & stopped to allow students time to make predictions and connect to the text
Objective was clear – gave students a clear objective that was enhanced with a five step process
Strong guided practice – the sample news article was clear with each step seen specifically with different colors
Kept students engaged – was able to keep most students active and re-focus those who zoned out briefly
Give clear instruction – wait until all papers are passes out before starting instructions (either give instruction then paper, or paper then instruction; never both at the same time). Also, speak slower when giving instruction.
Grade: 5
Time: 40 minutes
Standard: Text Types and Purposes
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Objective: The students will be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article).
Materials:
Lesson Sequence:
· “Boys and girls, today I am going to read to you one of my favorite books of all time. It is called The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. How many of you have heard of this book by Jon Scieszka? Great. Based on the title and the cover, what do you think this book will be about? Can you make some predictions?”
o Allow students time to predict. Follow up with questions like “What made you think that?” or “Why do you think that is going to happen?”
o “Very interesting predictions. Now let me read the beginning of the story and determine if your predictions were confirmed. Remember, predictions are never wrong because they are only what we think might happen. If we find our predictions are not what Jon Scieszka was thinking, then we will simply make new predictions.”
o Stop reading occasionally and allow students to confirm and change predictions:
§ Page 20: “So boys and girls, where do we think Al is going to go next?”
§ Page 28: “What do you think that Al is going to do to that 3rd mean pig?”
o If you notice students are not engaged with The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, stop and redirect by asking a question or discussing a connection.
· State Objective and Purpose:
o “Today, we are going to learn how to write our very own opinion article about our story. We will learn how to express our ideas just like professional news paper writers do. I am so excited; let’s get started!”
· Teach and Model:
- Have chart paper ready with the heading, “How to Write an News Paper Opinion Article”
- “Students, there are a few key components to writing an opinion article. First let’s define the word opinion. The word is defined as a personal view – the view somebody takes about an issue. To write one of these articles, there are a few steps one must follow.”
- Along the way, have students volunteer to define/explain each of the steps.
- “Step one is – discover or choose an opinion about a certain topic. In this case, you will be picking your favorite part of the story and writing about it.”
- “Step two is – write your opening sentence. An opening sentence should sum up what your entire article is going to be about.”
- “Step three is – state your opinion. This is where you make it clear to your reader what you point of view on the topic is. In this case, what was your favorite part of the story?”
- “Step four is – support your opinion with reasons. A well written article has two to three strong reasons for choosing the point of view that he/she chose. Why was that section your favorite?”
- “Step four is – write your conclusion sentence. A conclusion sentence should restate your original opinion.”
- From here, move into the prepared sample “News Article” worksheet.
· Guided Practice:o Go over the prepared “News Article” worksheet by stopping and having the students clearly see each of the four steps.
· Independent Practice/Assessment:
o “Boys and girls, it is now your turn to write an opinion article of your own. I am passing out your very own blank “News Article” worksheet. Make sure to write your name and number on the top of the page. Also, students, you will notice that there is spots for you to fill in your article title, photo, and photo caption; I ask that you do these three elements last. Now follow the four step process and create your very own article. I will be walking around if you have any questions.”
· Closure:
o “Who would like to share his/her article for the class?”
o “Great job future news paper writers! I am so impressed with all of your articles! Great job today!”
Assessment (How will you know the lesson has be successful?): You will be able to determine that the lesson was a success if, students asked relevant questions and produced opinion articles that followed the pre-set four step writing guidelines.
Today I taught my first lesson in the field. The goal was for the students to be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article). Based on the responses given throughout the lesson and the work handed in afterwards, it was made clear that the students were able to comprehend and use the newly presented information. Students, for the most part, remained focused through the entirety of the lesson asking well thought out questions and responding with skilled answers. There were a few students who I did notice spacing out towards the end of the guided practice section. I chose to re-focus some of my questions right on the spot to engage those students and draw them back into the conversation. Also, during independent work, I followed up with those two to three students to make sure that they were staying focused and on track. This approach appeared to work as these students’ news articles were just as strong as the rest of the classes. One thing that I want to improve upon for my next lesson is the timing of instruction. It is important for a student to hear all instructions before starting any assignment. As the teacher, I have the responsibility to set up my students for success. By rushing through the instructions while half the class was more focused on passing out the activity sheets, I was not allowing my students to have the tools needed for success. Timing of instruction is a skill that I will be focusing on when I teach my second lesson. Overall, I am proud of the work that I put forth. For my first attempt at a teaching literacy in a fifth grade classroom, I was able to engae my students, teach them the skills needed to write a well thought out news article, and assist them while they independently reached new levels of skill.
Notes from Cooperating Teacher: